Morality and Character of Imam al-Mahdi (A.S.)

Compiled by: Allama Husayn Ansariyan
The Imams of Ahl al-Bayt (a.s), due to restrictions imposed on them from every side, had no chance to fully reveal their capacities. The Imam of the Time, may Allah expedite his reappearance, will have a chance to reveal his multi-dimensional capacity as foreseen by the Holy Prophet and the Imam’s of Ahl al-Bayt. Therefore, his behavior, conduct and temperament have a dimension wider than those of the other Imams.
In most narrations, we read that the time of Imam al-Mahdi will be replete with bloodshed and killing. In certain narrations, it has even been pointed out that Allah will remove love for the enemies from the heart of Imam al-Mahdi so much so that people will say, This is not from the Household of Muhammad. Were he from the Household of Muhammad, he would have some mercy.154
However, one must note that when Imam al-Mahdi reappears, the world will be in the enemies’ hand and they will strongly resist him. In this connection, Imam al-Sadiq (a.s.) has said: When our Imam rises up, he will find people more ignorant than that of the time before Allah’s Messenger.
In this case, Imam al-Mahdi will have no option other than resorting to war and a revolutionary decisiveness. When the resistance of the sworn enemy is broken, justice, welfare, peace and security will prevail everywhere. What follows are narrations showing the morality and corrective character of Imam al-Mahdi in relation to the world and man at large:

Resemblance to the Holy Prophet
Looking at Husayn, Imam Ali said: This son of mine is a master as the Holy Prophet has called him a master and from his issue will come a man who has the same name as the Messenger of Allah and resembling to him in creation and character.155
Abdullah ibn Ata reports: I asked Imam al-Sadiq about the character of Imam al-Mahdi, and the Imam said: He will do what the Holy Prophet did.156
Quoting Allah’s Messenger, Ibn Abbas has reported: The ninth of them, the support of my Household and al-Mahdi of my ummah is the most similar to me in appearance, speech and deed.157
Abu-Muhammad Hasan ibn Ali Askari (a.s) was quoted by Ahmad ibn Ishaq ibn Sa’d as saying: I praise Allah that before I die He has shown me my successor who is the most similar to Allah’s Messenger in appearance, speech and deed.158
Quoting Qatadah, Kab al-Ahbar has reported: Al-Mahdi is the best of the people… the most beloved of people.159

Dispensing Justice
Ali ibn Musa al-Ridha (a.s) was asked, “O son of Allah’s Messenger! Who is the support of you Ahl al-Bayt?” The Imam said: It is the fourth of my sons. Through him, Allah will remove injustice from the Earth. When he reappears, the earth will be illuminated with his heavenly light. He will dispense justice among people so much so that no one will do any injustice to others.160
Quoting his father, Ali ibn Aqabah has reported: When Al-Mahdi rises up, he will rule with justice; there will be no injustice in his time and he will restore justice to its owner.161
Quoting Allah’s Messenger, Imam Ali has expressly said: The last of them (i.e. the Imams) has my names. He will reappear and fill the earth with justice when it is replete with injustice.162
Quoting Allah’s Messenger, Imam Ali has reported: The herald will call: This is al-Mahdi, Allah’s caliph. Follow him. He will make the earth replete with justice when it is filled with injustice. Allah will permit him to reappear at a time when chaos will overwhelm the world - some will attack the others by night, the grown-ups will have no mercy on the small ones, nor will the powerful be kind to the weak. 163
Imam al-Sadiq (a.s.) has reported: The first sign of al-Mahdi's justice is that a herald on his behalf will call: One who is performing minor Hajj should give his place to one on whom major Hajj is incumbent.164
There are a hundred and twenty narrations on how al-Mahdi will make the earth replete with justice.

Peace and Security
Imam Ali (a.s.) has reported: When our support rises up, enmity will leave the people’s hearts.165
Imam al-Baqir (a.s) has reported: When three hundred and odd companions of the Imam rule across the world, a feeble old woman in the east will set off for the west in peace and security.166
Quoting his father, Ali ibn Aqabah has reported: Should the Rising Imam rise up, all roads will become safe.167

Public Welfare
Imam al-Baqir (a.s.) has reported: Should those who have been hurt see the support of the Ahl al- Bayt, they will be relieved; and the feeble ones who see him will become powerful.168
Imam al-Sadiq (a.s.) has reported: Should our support (al-Mahdi) rise up, a man from among you will look for a needy person to help him and to take alms from what is incumbent to him; but he will not be able to find such a person to accept it from him; and people will become independent due to what Allah has given them out of His grace.169
Quoting the Holy Prophet, Imam Ali has reported: Everyone will go to him with wealth accumulated beside him and will ask al-Mahdi, “Grant something to me.” And he will say, “Take whatever you wish.”170
Imam al-Baqir (a.s.) has reported: When the Rising Imam reappears, he will give away to people twice a year and he will provide people with sustenance twice a month equally so that you will not find anyone in need of alms. The alms-payer will come to the needy followers of al-Mahdi but the needy will not accept his alms. The alms-money will be put in a purse to be taken to the houses of the Shiites, who will come out of their houses, addressing them: We are not in need of your money!
Imam al-Baqir (a.s.) has further reported: All the people’s wealth, both inside and outside the earth will be accumulated for al-Mahdi and then they will be said: Come to what for which you became merciless and shed the blood unlawfully and for which committed sins. Here, Imam al-Mahdi will award to people such a grant that no one has ever awarded.
The Holy Prophet has said: At the end of the world, there will be a caliph who will divide the wealth without counting them.171
Allah’s Messenger (S) has also said: At the time of al-Mahdi, Allah will make the hearts of the community of Muhammad free from want.172

Removing Harms from Shiites
Imam Ali ibn Musa al-Ridha (a.s.) has said: Al-Mahdi is a source of mercy for believers and punishment for the unbelievers.173
Imam Ali ibn Husayn Zayn al-Abidin (a.s.) has said: When the Rising Imam rises up, Allah will remove all harms from the Shiites.174
Imam al-Baqir (a.s.) has said: At the time of al-Mahdi, Allah will improve the situation of the Shiites, for if they are not happy, they will rebel.175
Imam Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) has said: When our support rises up, he will remove harms from believers and restore them their power.176
Imam al-Sadiq (a.s.) has said: When our support rises up, the era of concord will come about and every person takes what he needs from the purse of his brother without being prevented.177
Imam al-Sadiq (a.s.) has also said: During the Night of Ascension, Allah said to Holy Prophet (S) about al-Mahdi: I will take revenge from enemies through him. He is the source of tranquility for My friends and it is he who will calm the Shiites from experiencing of revenge of oppressors and unbelievers.178

Promoting Intellect, knowledge and Morality
Imam al-Sadiq (a.s.) has said: When our support rises up, he puts his hand on the heads of the servants whereby he promotes their wisdom and morality.179
Imam al-Sadiq (a.s.) has said: When our support rises up, Allah will strengthen the Shiites’ vision and hearing where by there is no need for a link between them and the standing Imam. He will speak to them while they listen to and look at him.180
Imam al-Sadiq (a.s.) has also said: Knowledge has twenty-seven parts. What the prophets have brought are two parts and people do not know more than these two parts to date. When our support rises up, he will bring with him the other twenty-five parts and spread the m among people so that they will become twenty-seven parts all together.181

Final Rule
Imam al-Sadiq (a.s.) has said: Our rule is the last one. No dynasty will come after our rule lest they will say if the rule were ours we would act like them. This is the meaning of Allah’s saying: The good end is for those who guard against evil.182

How to Salute Imam al-Mahdi?
Imam al-Sadiq (a.s.) has said: Should you survive as to see him, when you look at him, say: Peace be upon you, O people of the House of the Prophet and of Mercy, source of knowledge, and seat of Divine Mission. Peace be upon you, O Allah’s Reminder on the earth.
Notes:
154. Bihar al-Anwar: 354/52, H. 13
155. Bihar al-Anwar: 39/51, H. 20
156. Bihar al-Anwar: 352/52, H. 108
157. Bihar al-Anwar: 379/52, H. 187
158. Kamal al-Din: 118/2.
159. Aqd al-Durar fi Akhbar al-Muntadhar: 152
160. Kamal al-Din: 371/2, Chapter: 35, H. 5
161. Al-Irshad by al-Mufid: 384/2
162. Bihar al-Anwar: 379/52, Chapter: 27, H. 186
163. Bihar al-Anwar: 380/52, H. 182
164. Al-Kafi: 427/4, H. 1
165. Al-Khisal: 626/2, H. 10
166. Bihar al-Anwar: 341/5, H. 91
167. Al-Irshad by al-Mufid: 384/2
168. Bihar al-Anwar: 335/52, H. 68
169. Al-Irshad by al-Mufid: 386/2
170. Bihar al-Anwar: 379/52, H. 186
171. Aqd al-Durar fi Akhbar al-Muntadhar: 161
172. Ibid
173. Kamal al-Din: 376/2, H. 7
174. Bihar al-Anwar: 317/52, Chapter: 22, H. 12
175. Bihar al-Anwar: 341/52, Chapter: 27, H. 91
176. Bihar al-Anwar: 364/52, Chapter: 27, H. 138
177. Al-Ikhtisas: 26
178. Kamal al-Din: 251/1, H. 2
179. Bihar al-Anwar: 336/52, chapter: 27, H. 71
180. Bihar al-Anwar: 336/52, Chapter: 27, H. 72
181. Bihar al-Anwar: 336/52, Chapter: 27, H. 73
182. Al-Irshad by al-Mufid: 384/2